World Baseball Classic: Japan Prevails Over China

Japan opened up the 2009 World Baseball Classic with a 4-0 win over team China.

Surprisingly, the Japanese team wasn’t led by superstar Ichiro Suzuki—who was 0-for-5, leaving five runners on base—instead strong pitching lifted the squad. The most exciting moment of the game was a two-run homer hit by Japan’s third baseman Shuichi Murata.

Both sides had strong pitching—only allowing five hits a piece—but China’s fielding may have well cost them the game. China’s starter Yu Darvish (above) went four no-hit innings, with three strikeouts and just one walk.